Rate leakage is a serious problem for hoteliers. Triptease’s Charlie Osmond raises the alarm about a new approach by Booking.com.

This month the CEOs from Priceline and Expedia attempted to dissuade hoteliers from efforts to drive direct bookings. In specific circumstances they may have a point. Newly-opened hotels, for example, can get to break-even more quickly by focussing on OTA-led distribution in year one.